Current Affairs Today - Current Affairs 2015

India’s Ranveer Singh Saini has won a Gold medal at the Special Olympics World Games held in Los Angeles. The 14 year old golfer suffering from autistic achieved this feat in GF Golf-Level 2 Alternate Shot Team Play.

With this victory he became the first Golfer from India to win a Gold medal at the Special Olympics World Games. Earlier in 2013, Ranveer had become the first golfer from India to win 2 Gold medals at the Asia Pacific World Games.

Ranveer Singh Saini hails from Gurgaon, Haryana. At the age of 2, he was diagnosed with autism. He had taken Golf as a sport at the age of 9.

It should be noted that autism is a neurological disorder characterised by impaired social interaction.

Union Cabinet approved Consumer Protection Bill, 2015 in order deal with the growing concern over the safety of consumer products and services.

The new bill seeks to replace Consumer Protection Act, 1986 in order to deal with consumer protection and safety. It aims at simplifying the consumer dispute resolution process along with enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction of the consumer grievance redressal agencies.

Key features of the Bill

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): establishment of CCPA as an apex regulatory authority with more powers to protect and enforce the rights of consumers.

It will have powers to recall products and initiate action suit against defaulting companies including e-tailers for refunds and return of products.

Product liability: If product or services causes personal injury, death or damage to property, CCPA will have powers to take action against defaulting manufacturers or service providers.

Speedy disposal of court cases: In this regard, provision related to ‘mediation’ has been proposed which will act as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. However, mediation will be under the aegis of consumer courts.

Establishment of circuit bench: For speedy disposal of complaints consumers can file complaints electronically circuit bench along with traditional mechanism of filing complaints in consumer courts that have jurisdiction over the place of residence.

Rationality behind introducing new Bill

There is a need to modernise the Act to address challenges related to consumer protection effectively.